diff --git a/cmd/mtwebmapper/forwardupdates.go b/cmd/mtwebmapper/forwardupdates.go
index 4333974..ec40ab3 100644
--- a/cmd/mtwebmapper/forwardupdates.go
+++ b/cmd/mtwebmapper/forwardupdates.go
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ type connection struct {
 
 type (
 	tilesMsg struct {
-		Tiles []xz `json:"tiles,omitempty"`
+		Tiles []xz `json:"tiles"`
 	}
 	plsMsg struct {
-		Pls []*player `json:"players,omitempty"`
+		Pls []*player `json:"players"`
 	}
 )
 
@@ -83,8 +83,6 @@ func (wsf *websocketForwarder) send(m interface{}) {
 
 		data := buf.Bytes()
 
-		log.Printf("sending: %s\n", string(data))
-
 		for c := range wsf.connections {
 			select {
 			case c.send <- data:
diff --git a/cmd/mtwebmapper/players.go b/cmd/mtwebmapper/players.go
index da6413c..e48aa39 100644
--- a/cmd/mtwebmapper/players.go
+++ b/cmd/mtwebmapper/players.go
@@ -133,9 +133,7 @@ func samePlayers(a, b []*player) bool {
 
 func (ps *players) run() {
 	for {
-		ps.mu.Lock()
-		empty := len(ps.pls) == 0
-		ps.mu.Unlock()
+		empty := len(ps.current()) == 0
 
 		pls, err := ps.readFromFIFO()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -169,12 +167,15 @@ func (ps *players) run() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (ps *players) current() []*player {
+	ps.mu.RLock()
+	defer ps.mu.RUnlock()
+	return ps.pls
+}
+
 func (ps *players) ServeHTTP(rw http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	rw.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-	var pls []*player
-	ps.mu.RLock()
-	pls = ps.pls
-	ps.mu.RUnlock()
+	pls := ps.current()
 	encoder := json.NewEncoder(rw)
 	if err := encoder.Encode(pls); err != nil {
 		log.Printf("error: sending JSON failed: %s\n", err)